Straight bar knitting machine



April 5, 1949. w. A. COOPER ET AL 2,466,536

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1947 l v s sheets-shea 1 pr 5, i949. w. A. COOPER Er AL 2,466,535

STRAIGHT BAR KITTING MACHINE FledApril 2,. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. A. COOPER ET AL STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE April@ ma,

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 2, 1947 Patented Apr. 5, 1949 STRAIGHT' BAR KNITTING MACHINE William Arthur Cooper, Loughborough,

and

Ernest Start,- Kylestrome, Wilford, England, assignors to William Cotton Limited, Loughborough, England Application April 2, 1947, Serial No. 738,800 In Great Britain January 3, 1946 (Cl. (i6- 110) 8 Claims. 1

This invention concerns Cottons patent or other straight bar knitting machines and primarily, but not exclusively, machines of this type which are organised for knitting the blanks of fully fashioned stockings. It will be appreciated however that the invention is applicable to machines which do not fashion or shape fabric and is also applicable to machines other than stocking frames which do in fact produce shaped fabric; examples of such other machines are underwear and outerwear frames.

In straight bar knitting machines organised for the production of the blanks of fully fashioned stockings it is the invariable practice to provide a pluralityl of thread carriers for use with each group or division of needles in the machine. These thread carriers, for each division,4 may for example consist of a welt thread carrier, a main thread carrier, two high heel splicing carriers, and two sole thread carriers. They are brought into operation at various successive stages during the production of the stocking blank andare put out of action when no longer required. When any of the carriers is out of action its thread is secured underneath a spring clip ocleat located beyond the yselvedge needle of the division in question, and when any of the thread carriers is brought into action the thread extending from the cleat to the work is cut by the operator close to the selvedge of the fabric as soon as is convenient after the carrier has laid its first course. An object of the present invention is to provide mechanism which performs this operation automatically. A further object is to provide mechanism for severing a toe thread, hereinafter described in greater detail, at the completion of a stocking blank. A still further object of the invention is the provision of new or improved cutter mechanism in straight bar knitting machines.

As viewed from one aspect the invention provides in a Cottons patent or other straight bar knitting machine, the combination with a clamp or trapper located beyond the selvedge for securing a withdrawn thread which upon reintroduction extends from the clamp to the se1vedgeof cutter mechanism operable to sever said thread subsequent to reintroduction. Preferably, this cutter mechanism comprises a thread cutting instrument movable to receive the thread on it as said thread is being laid for a course. Therefore, the said instrument is preferablyv movable between the needles. to, receive the thread and' the invention also provides in a Cottons patent or other straight. bar knitting machine, atleast one thread cutting instrument movable between the needles to engage the thread and to cause it to be cut. Because this instrument is movable between the needles it is best mouted in the sinker bed. Indeed, it may be constituted by a sinker and therefore the invention also provides in a Cottons patent or other straight bar knitting machine, at least one thread-cutting sinker and means for operating it to cut the thread.

In order to cut the thread the cutting instrument or sinker advantageously co-operates with a cutting edge on the sinker bed or cap.

There may be a cutting instrument or sinker located beyond the selvedge needle or beyond each selvedge needle of the division of needles. Preferably there is an instrument or sinker at each of a plurality of spaced locations' in the division of needles and there may be. mechanism for bringing such instruments or sinkers having different locations into operation at different periods. That is to say there may be mechanism for bringing them selectively into operation.

According to an important subsidiary feature of the invention a machine organised to produce fabric of varying width between selvedges has a pair of outer instruments or sinkers widely spaced apart, a pair of inner instruments or sinkers less widely spaced apart, and mechanism for bringing one of the outer instruments or sinkers into operation to cut the thread beyond a selvedge at a time when the fabric is comparatively Wide and for bringing one of the other instruments or sinkers into operation to cut the thread beyond a selvedge at another time when the fabric is of less Width. Thus for example there may be a pair of instruments or sinkers the spacing between which is slightly greater than the width of fabric in the welt and another pair, the spacing between which. is slightly greater than the width of the fabric of a narrowed part of the leg or panel of the blank for a seamless hose. After one carrier has been taken out of action at the end of the welt and the carrier for introducing the panel thread has been brought into action, one of the rst mentioned sinkers may be operated to cut the panel thread exetnding from the selvedge of the fabric to the cleat. Furthermore when the high heel splicing carriers have been introduced the second mentioned instruments or sinkers may be operated to cut the splicing threads extending between the selvedges of the fabric and the cleats.

In order that the nature of the invention may be more readily understood reference will now be `made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one type of fully fashioned hose blank,

Figure 2 is a plan view of a blank being produced.

Figures 3 to 5 are details of various steps of operation of jack sinkers.

Figures to 8 are plan views of Figs. 3 to 5 respectively. A i

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of means for controlling .lack sinkers. 1

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic front view of 'mdi ed means for controlling jack sinkers,r an'd;f

Figure 11 is a cross section view offsuchrnodifled means.

Figure l shows by way of example a particular shape of blank for a fully fashioned hose pro-y duced on a straight bar knitting machine and in this blank there are at least three different yarns, one yarn in the welt 40, a second yarn in'vithe panel 42 and a third (splicing) yarn in the spliced portion 43.m j'Ihis arrangement necessitates at least two yarn changes `during the; pro duction` of the blank i. e.V one at the' position A-A and the other at the position B-B and in order that each new yarn may be 'out closeto theselvedge at the time that each yarnis rst introduced there is provided a recessed jack sinker at four spaced positions in the sinker bedeach corresponding to one of the positions A or oneof the positions B. These jack sinkers are shown in position in Fig. 2 by the thick lines havingthe reference fl yThere is also provided an additional recessedjack sinker I -approximately `midway of the line-of sinkersV and this position corresponds` tothe position C in Fig. 1 which is intermediate'tle last course of the toe portion of the blank. To understand the purpose l. o f this additional sinker' it should be explained that ,stocking blanks rare usually provided with a few additional courses on the end of the toeV portion by which the blank maybe transferred onto points but the disadvantage has existed that there is usually a short end of yarn projecting from the end of the last course ofthe additional courses and this yarn end is often inadvertentlyl pulled thereby unravelling some or all of said courses. `Therefore the purpose fof the additional recessed jack sinker is to cut the Vyarnintermediate the last course and when the blank is pressed off and removed from the machine that part of the last course from which yarn extendsto the thread carrierisremoved from the blank bythe operator who then secures the end under a spring clip or cleat hereinafter referred to, and the other part` ofthe course is left in the fabric., the cut endV being so short as not to project therefrom. Thepossibility ofthe additional coursesbecoming inadvertently unravelled is therefore considerably minimized.

Each jack sinker I has a recess 2 as shown in Figs. 2 to 6 and these figures illustrate the cutting operation. Immediately before the panel thread is r'st laid and vimmediately before the splicing thread is first laid (and if desired before the welt thread is first laid) the] recessed jacksinker required to cut the yarn is projected as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, therefore, when as shown in Figs. 2,74 and 7, the thread carrier 3 lays the first course of thread 4, said thread is received in the recess 2 Aof the recessed jack sinker. As shown in Fig. V2`there is a length of yarn 5 extending from a cleat B to the selvedge 'Ijof theblank 8 and referring now to Figs. and 8t will be seen that' subsequent withdrawal of the jack vsinker 'results in said length of yarn 5 beingl cut close to the selvedgeV I by the -relative movement of 4 the sinker recess with the leading edges 9 of the sinker cap I0. It will be appreciated of course that a thread carrier may be introduced from either side of the blank and it is for this reason that a recessed jack sinker is provided on each side'of the blank-for each new yarn, the arrangement being such that the particular recessed jack sinker, selected at any one time for the cutting operation is the one that is nearest to the selvedge on the side whereat the carrier is introduced.

' It shouldalso be explained that in connection 'with the paneli'thrcad and the splicing thread taniiftnwelt'tnread if desired) the operative cuttin'gfsinkeris' located immediately outside the selvedgesothat it does not cut the fabric but only cuts theV yarn end. A.",With regard to the toe, the central recessed jack `sinker is projected not immediately before theflrst course of a yarn is laid, but immediately before the last course of yarn is laid; therefore, 'saidlast 'courseofyarn is laid inthe recess of th'e" sinkerand subsequent withdrawal of said sinker-(after thenc'ourseofr stitches is formed) rsltsin the yarn being cut as and for the purpose'previ'ously described, and the end extending from fthe thread carrier is controlled also in the manner previously described.

i O`ne convenient arrangement of means for selecting the reces'se'dnjacksinkers at the required tim'eis illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 9. The customary arrangement is that each jacksinkerhasassociated 'with it a jack which isipressedy forward at the required time by a traversed'slurcockA II to advance the sinkers one afteritheother, and according to this invention eachjack I2- associated with the recessed jack sinkers? Iis provided with a tail `piece I3. The tail piece Ir3-of each jack overlies an upstanding rod I4 j the lower end of which is connected through suitable-bell crank levers I5 and links Ilito` a rocking lever I1 and said lever I1 acts as a feeler to respond to the dictates of a .patterning device, being-here shownas'being located in the path of bits or lugs I8 on a pattern chain I9. The pattern' chain may be one customarily employed in straight bar knitting machines or a separate one ifdesired. The bitsor `lugs I8 for selecting the recessed jack sinkers are so arranged in timed relation tothe production of the stocking that they rock the'respective rocking levers I1 at the required time, thereby advancing the recessed ja'ck'siinkers also at the required time through the levers I5,v links I6, rod I4 and tail-piece I3 of the jacks* I2. After any ofthe special sinkers I are thus advanced the remaining sinkers are advanced in the usual way by the slurcock I I and all the sinkers are subsequently retracted by the customary catch bar 2U.

In an alternative arrangement shown somewhat diagrammatically in Figures 10 and 1l the recessed jack sinkers'are provided with butts 2| of different heights. More specifically the 4pair of recessed jack sinkers one of which is first to be selected havehigher butts 2Ia than all the remaining jack sinkers; the recessed jack sinkers one'of which is next to be selected have butts 2lb of slightlyless height than the first mentioned sinkers andthe central recessed jack sinker last 'to Abe selected has itsbutt 2Ic of slightly less heightthanthe last two-mentioned sinkers and offslightlyf greater height-than the remaining normal sinkers. With `the :sinker butts arranged in this manner it Will be obvious that the recessed Ajack sinkers may befre'adily selected andadvanced "attlierequired' time bylthecustomary catch bar.

To this end the customary catch bar 20 (Fig. 11) is arranged to be advanced by an additional cam 22 on the .main cam shaft 23, and to ensure that said catch bar is advanced at the appropriate time in the knitting cycle the cam 22 is set on the cam shaft in advance of the customary catch bar cam. Any suitable means may be provided for rendering the cam 22 operative and inoperative at the required times in the production of a stocking, such as by shogging the truck 20 on the catch bar lever 20a by a fork member 20h which is actuated by any suitable patterning mechanism. Means are also provided whereby when the catch bar is advanced by the cam 22, the bar is lowered to varying extents at the appropriate time (in the knitting cycle and in the production of the stocking) so as to engage rst the outermost and then the intermediate and finally the central recessed jack sinker. For this purpose the catch bar 20 has a pair of extensions 24 to which springs 25 are attached to bias the catch bar downwardly and there is a pair of upstanding rods 26 each having a collar 21 bearing on the underside of the extensions 24 and these rods are attached at their lower ends to a bell-crank lever device 21 having a truck 28 engaging with a cam 29 on the main cam shaft 23. The rods 26 each have a roller or truck 30 connected to it and these rollers are arranged to ride respectively on a pair of stepped cams 32 which are mounted on a bar 33. The bar 33 is slidable by a rocking arm 34 engaging a fork 35 attached to the bar and said arm is xed to an axle 36 which may be partly rotated at the required time by a hand lever 31 or by a pattern device 38 having lugs at three diierent heights through suitable links and levers 39.

In operation the catch bar is projected forward at the required time by the cam 22 and it is lowered by the spring-s 25 to an extent controlled by engagement of the rollers 30 with the stepped cams 32 and the stepped cams are shogged under control of the pattern device 38 or the hand lever at the required time and to the require extent to position either one of the steps of each cam under its associated roller. In this manner movement of the catch bar is controlled so as to engage the different heights of butts at the required time and thereby to advance the various recessed jack sinkers at the required time.

We claim:

1. A Cottons patents or other straight bar knitting machine, having at least one cutting sinker with a recess in its upper edge, the front edge of which recess constitutes a cutting edge, a co-operating cutting edge on the sinker bed or cap, and mechanism for giving said sinker an abnormal advance to receive in said recess the thread laid by a carrier and for retracting said sinker to cut the thread.

2. A machine according to claim 1, having a cutting sinker at an intermediate location in the division of needles to cut at an intermediate location in a course.

3. In a straight bar knitting machine, the combination of a clamp or trapper located beyond the selvedge for securing a withdrawn thread which, upon reintroduction, extends from the clamp to the selvedge, and cutter mechanism for severing said thread subsequent to reintroduction, which cutter mechanism comprises a thread-cutting instrument movable to receive the thread on it as said thread is being laid for a course.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein said instrument is movable between the needles to receive the thread.

5. A straight bar knitting machine of the type organized to knit a fashioned stocking blank down to the toe, including additional toe courses, and then to press ofi and having a division of needles, a sinker mounting comprising a sinker bed and a cap, sinkers capable of projection and retraction in said mounting, and a carrier for feeding thread to the needles; having one of the sinkers, occupying an intermediate location in the width of the division, constituted by `a cutting sinker for cutting the thread of the last additional toe course, said cutting sinker having a recess in its top edge of which recess the front edge is a cutting edge, a cooperating cutting edge on the sinker mounting, and mechanism for giving the cutting sinker an abnormal advance to receive in its recess the thread laid by the carrier and for retracting said cutting sinker to cut that thread.

6. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the cutting instrument is a jack sinker.

7. A machine according to claim 3, having a line of needles for knitting a selvedged blank, a cutting instrument as aforesaid at each of spaced locations along the line of needles, and mechanism [for bringing the instruments, having different locations into operation at `diierent periods in the production of the blank.

8. A machine according to claim 3, having a line of needles for knitting a selvedged blank of varying width, a pair of o`uter cutting instruments widely spaced apart, a pair of inner cutting instruments less widely spaced apart, and mechanism for bringing one of the outer instruments into operation to cut the thread beyond a selvedge at a phase in the fabric production Whereat the blank is comparatively wide and for bringing one of the inner instruments into operation to cut the thread beyond a selvedge at a phase when the fabric is of less Width.

WILLIAM ARTHUR COOPER. ERNEST START.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 579,621 Wever Mar. 30, 1897 928,244 Burson July 20, 1909 1,441,110 OLena Jan. 2, 1923 2,100,345 Miller Nov. 30, 1937 2,132,494 Rinehart Oct. 11, 1938 2,363,008 Lambach Nov. 21, 1944 

